Senegal debates on the sustainable management of water in a project by UB Solidarity Foundation and Món-3
In the Senegalese area of Niayes, ranging from Dakar to Saint-Louis, the problem regarding water is at the core of development, since it affects activities such as horticulture, and the culture and exploitation of salt. Niayes has exceptional bioclimatic and water conditions, but the advance of the dunes has compromised the fertility of the soil, the excessive use of water for horticulture has caused the decrease of underground reserves, pesticides have affected the quality of water and production, and urbanization has caused a loss of agricultural lands.
In the Senegalese area of Niayes, ranging from Dakar to Saint-Louis, the problem regarding water is at the core of development, since it affects activities such as horticulture, and the culture and exploitation of salt. Niayes has exceptional bioclimatic and water conditions, but the advance of the dunes has compromised the fertility of the soil, the excessive use of water for horticulture has caused the decrease of underground reserves, pesticides have affected the quality of water and production, and urbanization has caused a loss of agricultural lands.
Regarding this situation, in 2016 the University of Barcelona, through UB Solidarity Foundation and Món-3, started a collaboration with the University Gaston Berger (UGB) from Saint-Louis (Senegal) to share the experience of the ecological treatment of water resources. A productive collaboration which led to the inauguration, last January, of an ecological water purification system pilot plant for the treatment and reutilization of waste waters in the UGB campus. At the moment, the collaboration continues as part of the second phase of the cooperation project “Contribution to the sustainable management of water resources in Saint-Louis”, funded by the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) and carried out together with the Regional Development Agency of Saint Louis (Ard).
In this context, from June 11 to 13 the UGB held the seminar “Sustainable water management: challenges in urban and peri-urban territory”, which gathered university experts and thirty representatives from the department of Saint-Louis to talk about water governance, management of floods and waste waters, among other issues. During the seminar, Món-3 and UB Solidarity foundations and AMB shared examples of intercommunity management that favoured the integral management of the water cycle in the Barcelona metropolitan area, such as the rehabilitation of the Besòs River. Apart, Món-3 and UB Solidarity foundations presented their joint initiative with UGB in the ecological treatment of water resources, sanitation and management of water uses in Senegal, in which the pilot plat of the UGB stands out, where a guided tour was offered the last day of the seminar.
Drinkable fresh water worldwide
Fresh water accounts for a 2.5% of the planeʼs water stock, but only 0.3% is easily accessible in reservoirs, rivers and lakes, so it is essential to think about its sustainable management, as noted by the experts who gathered in the seminar. Also, academicians noted that during this period of climate change, the global decrease of rains could affect the groundwater recharge.
During the sessions, experts highlighted that, globally, 2,600 million people (40% of the world population) do not have access to potable water and basic sanitizing; and improving the access to these services would help saving 1.6 million lives every year, mainly children.
Therefore, the different actors from the department of Saint-Louis accepted to plan together a full management of the water resources to maximize the social and economic wellbeing without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems.